Ex-sheriff's honor irks Stroudsburg resident

Woman questions Sebring's name on bridge because of disparaging comments

The decision to partially rename Stroudsburg's Seventh Street bridge in honor of a late former Monroe County sheriff — once accused of making disparaging remarks about women and minorities while in his official capacity — has sparked anger from at least one resident.

Comment

By DAVID PIERCE

poconorecord.com

By DAVID PIERCE

Posted Jul. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By DAVID PIERCE

Posted Jul. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

The decision to partially rename Stroudsburg's Seventh Street bridge in honor of a late former Monroe County sheriff — once accused of making disparaging remarks about women and minorities while in his official capacity — has sparked anger from at least one resident.

Forrest Sebring, who served as county sheriff for 28 years, died in 2011.

Gov. Tom Corbett will sign a bill Monday, while visiting the Pocono Township municipal building, renaming the bridge the "Martin and Sebring Bridge." Martin is Todd Martin, the incumbent sheriff since Sebring retired in 1995.

While Stroudsburg resident Dottie Gordon has no issue with Martin, she objects to Sebring receiving the honor.

Gordon was among dozens of people who protested in front of the Monroe County Courthouse in 1988 after Sebring said of female prisoners during a Monroe County Prison Board meeting: "Every woman that you get in over there (at the jail) has to have some kind of complications. She has to be rebushed or something," according to Pocono Record archives.

Asked that day what he meant, Sebring made reference to the female genitalia. He said later the statement was taken out of context, that it was a side comment to other male prison board members never meant for publication.

In 1977, the Monroe County chapter of the NAACP called for Sebring's resignation for "deplorable and degrading" comments about blacks, according to Pocono Record archives.

Both incidents ignited an outpouring of support, as well as protests. Many described him as a straight shooter who treated all people fairly, may have been old fashioned, but wasn't malicious. He was easily elected to sheriff terms after both incidents, usually as the largest vote-getter of any Monroe County candidate.

Gordon recalls the comments as hurtful and belittling. She said she walks across the bridge often and doesn't want to see Sebring's name on it.

"I just don't feel it's appropriate," Gordon said. "I don't know what he's done to get his name on the bridge but I know what he's done not to get his name on the bridge."

State Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, who introduced the state House bill renaming the bridge, said it is appropriate to honor Sebring. Scavello said he vetted Sebring's name with some members of the community before seeking the designation.

"He was the No. 1 vote-getter every one of those years," Scavello said. "If the people of the county admired him so much — if that doesn't tell the story of the person, nothing else will."

The totality of his record speaks volumes about Sebring, Scavello said.

"As a sheriff, you're going to do some things sooner or later that some people don't like," Scavello said. "It's a shame the man is deceased and there's going to be a story" about his past.

Martin, co-recipient of the bridge renaming, echoed that sentiment.

"I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and views," Martin said in a statement, "though the thought of seeking retribution for past concerns through the media is very sad, not only for Forrest's family, but also for the tens of thousands of supporters he had as one of the top vote-getters in the county — even during the few times his views and comments were direct and deemed controversial."